Richard Barbieri - Planets + Persona (album montage)

Released on the 40th anniversary of the Japan's first recording, the new studio album from the ex-Japan and Porcupine Tree keyboards maestro, 'Planets + Persona' is Richard Barbieri's most sonically expansive work to date with an array of guest performers

As an ex-founder of the new-wave pioneers Japan, Barbieri was a leader in creating the ground-breaking synthesiser sound that defined the band and influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Talk Talk and a whole raft of artists to follow.

Following Japan, Barbieri joined Steven Wilson to form the legendary progressive outfit Porcupine Tree, playing keyboards on all the band’s albums since 1993 as well as releasing two striking solo albums: Things Buried and Stranger Inside.

In 2017, Barbieri releases his most sonically expansive work to date. Planets + Persona is his third solo album, but the first to feature such a wide pallet of instrumentation. Vintage analogue synthesisers combine with acoustic performances and jazz elements, including some stark and memorable improvisations from a personally hand-picked group of musicians. Twisted voices are always present, though not in a language we can recognise.

Recorded across Europe in studios in London, Italy and Sweden, Barbieri has succeeded in creating his most ambitious solo release with a central theme of duality that runs through the album. The album is complimented with photographic scenes of dramatic Icelandic landscapes in the 16-page booklet included with the CD to be released by Kscope in March 2017.

[victoriacclowes]

Really looking forward to this release. Richard's recent performances, where he has showcased a couple of these tracks, were fascinating. And, I love the accompanying images, used in this

[Sonicspeed]

Loving the jazz and electronic undertones! Barbieri doesn't disappoint.

[julianjoyce]

Yes ! It seems to be exciting & fascinating !
1:41, something there sounds beautifully like a kind of "à la Robert Wyatt" style... 21st century's "Rock bottom"' ? Great ! :)

[Mik_Pick]

I admittedly haven't listened to much of Richard's solo stuff outside of Porcupine Tree, but I'm really liking what I'm hearing here! A lot of it reminds me of a jazzier Trent Reznor (Both his work with Nine Inch Nails and his soundtracks with Atticus Ross.)

I'll definitely be picking this up!

[persianskeptic]

HMMM I'm gonna check this out . It sounds like the kind of music that I would make myself .

[сусс-гт]

это очень прекрасный альбом и мне нравиться ...

[rimefrostkitten]

2:19 elapsed time marker. 
Captures Naruto animated production direction beneath soundtrack 'with the' Porcupine Tree sense of desperation.

[chartomosfil]

What the fuck, I wan't this album.